LiAngelo Ball will not be on Lakers’ Summer League team – the LaVar effect was real.

Lakers officially informed LiAngelo Ball he will not be on their Summer League team last night. They were determined to make this a basketball decision but as one source put it, “obviously there’s more to it than basketball.” In other words— the LaVar effect was real.

By making a decision not to invite Gelo, they actually had to make a decision as to whether or not to appease LaVar and Lonzo, who would both have said give the kid a chance. And there’s a good argument to be made that that would have been the easy and logical path out. Lakers gave Gelo a shot and he didn’t make the grade.

This way definitely says we want the controversy that comes with giving him a shot and no contract, etc. One way or another, no other player was advised he would NOT make the summer league roster. Says the Lakers want to keep LaVar and the family at a distance, for good reason. I feel bad for Gelo because his chances are likely lower due to his dad, not that he had a real chance anyway but scouts have been wrong.